Cooktop appliance control system

ABSTRACT

A method for operating a cooktop appliance is provided. The method includes determining a temperature of a cooking utensil positioned on a heating element of the cooktop appliance, as well as determining a temperature of a food in the utensil positioned on the heating element of the cooktop appliance. The method also includes calculating a temperature differential between the temperatures of the food in the cooking utensil and of the cooking utensil itself. Subsequently, the method includes controlling a heating temperature of the heating element to reduce the temperature differential when the temperature differential is greater than a predetermined threshold to, e.g., reduce a risk of burning a portion of the food in the utensil.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to cooktop appliances, ormore particularly to methods for operating cooktop appliances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cooktop appliances generally include heating elements for heatingcooking utensils, such as pots, pans and griddles. A user can select adesired heating level, and operation of the heating elements is modifiedto match the desired heating level. For example, certain cooktopappliances include electric heating elements. During operation, thecooktop appliance operates the electric heating elements at apredetermined power output corresponding to a selected heating level.

Operating the electric heating elements at the predetermined poweroutput corresponding to the selected heating level poses certainchallenges. For example, such a method of operation may create anundesirable temperature differential between a temperature of thecooking utensil being heated by the heating element and a temperature ofone or more food items positioned in the cooking utensil. Such anundesirable temperature differential may cause a portion of the one ormore food items positioned in the cooking utensil to burn, while aremaining portion of the one or more food items remains uncooked.

Accordingly, a cooktop appliance with features for avoiding suchundesired heating of a cooking utensil on the cooktop appliance would beuseful. In particular, a cooktop appliance with features for managing apower output of heating elements of the cooktop appliance to avoid anundesirable temperature differential between a temperature of a cookingutensil and a temperature of one or more food items positioned withinthe cooking utensil would be particularly beneficial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in thefollowing description, or may be apparent from the description, or maybe learned through practice of the invention.

In a first exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, a method foroperating a cooktop appliance is provided. The method includesdetermining a temperature of a cooking utensil positioned on a heatingelement of the cooktop appliance, and determining a temperature of afood in the cooking utensil positioned on the heating element of thecooktop appliance. The method also includes calculating a temperaturedifferential between the temperature of the cooking utensil and thetemperature of the food in the cooking utensil. The method also includescontrolling a heating temperature of the heating element to reduce thetemperature differential when the temperature differential is greaterthan a predetermined threshold.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a cooktopappliance is provided. The cooktop appliance includes a heating elementpositioned on a cooktop surface of the cooktop appliance, and acontroller operably connected to the heating element. The controller isconfigured to receive a signal from a cookware temperature sensorindicative of a temperature of a cooking utensil positioned on theheating element. The controller is also configured to receive a signalfrom a food temperature sensor indicative of a temperature of a foodpositioned in the cooking utensil positioned on the heating element. Thecontroller is also configured to calculate a temperature differentialbetween the temperature of the cooking utensil and the temperature ofthe food in the cooking utensil, and control a heating temperature ofthe heating element when the calculated temperature differential isgreater than a predetermined threshold.

In another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure a method forassociating a wireless sensor to a heating element of a cooktopappliance is provided. The method includes receiving a wireless signalfrom a wireless sensor configured with a cooking utensil with a firstwireless receiver, the first wireless receiver associated with a firstheating element in a plurality of heating elements of the cooktopappliance. The method also includes receiving a wireless signal from thewireless sensor configured with the cooking utensil with a secondwireless receiver, the second wireless receiver associated with a secondheating element in the plurality of heating elements. The method alsoincludes comparing a strength of the wireless signal received with thefirst wireless receiver to a strength of the wireless signal receivedwith the second wireless receiver. The method also includes determininga position of the cooking utensil on one of the first heating element orthe second heating element based on the compared strengths of thewireless signals received with the first and second wireless receivers.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which areincorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrateembodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including thebest mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is setforth in the specification, which makes reference to the appendedfigures.

FIG. 1 provides a side, perspective view of a range having a cooktopappliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subjectmatter.

FIG. 2 provides a top, schematic view of the exemplary cooktop applianceof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 provides a schematic diagram of a control system in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure as may be usedwith the exemplary cooktop appliance of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 provides a flow diagram of a method for operating a cooktopappliance in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 provides a flow diagram of a method for associating a wirelesssensor to a heating element of a cooktop appliance in accordance with anexemplary aspect of the present disclosure

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention,one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Eachexample is provided by way of explanation of the invention, notlimitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be madein the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit ofthe invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as partof one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a stillfurther embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present inventioncovers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a range appliance, or range 10,including a cooktop appliance 12. Range 10 is provided by way of exampleonly and is not intended to limit the present subject matter to thearrangement shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the present subject matter may beused with other range 10 and/or cooktop appliance 12 configurations,e.g., double oven range appliances, standalone cooktop appliances,cooktop range appliances without an oven, etc.

A panel or cooking surface 14 of cooktop appliance 12 includes aplurality of heating elements 16. For the embodiment depicted, thecooktop appliance 12 includes five heating elements 16 spaced alongcooking surface 14. In certain exemplary embodiments, cooktop appliance12 may be a radiant cooktop appliance, and cooking surface 14 may beconstructed of a glass, ceramic, or a combination glass-ceramicmaterial, or any other suitable material. In such an embodiment, theheating elements 16 may be, e.g., electrical resistive heating elements.However, in other embodiments, the cooktop appliance 12 may include anyother suitable shape, configuration, and/or number of heating elements16. Additionally, in other embodiments, the cooktop appliance 12 mayinclude any other suitable type of heating element 16, such as a gasburner heating element or induction heating element. Each of the heatingelements 16 may be the same type of heating element 16, or cooktopappliance 12 may include a combination of different types of heatingelements 16.

As shown in FIG. 1, a cooking utensil 18, such as a pot, pan, or thelike, may be placed on a heating element 16 to heat the cooking utensil18 and cook or heat food items placed in cooking utensil 18. Rangeappliance 10 also includes a door 20 that permits access to a cookingchamber (not shown) of range appliance 10, e.g., for cooking or bakingof food items therein. A control panel 22 having controls 24 permits auser to make selections for cooking of food items. Although shown on abacksplash or back panel 26 of range appliance 10, control panel 22 maybe positioned in any suitable location. Controls 24 may include buttons,knobs, and the like, as well as combinations thereof. As an example, auser may manipulate one or more controls 24 to select a temperatureand/or a heat or power output for each heating element 16. The selectedtemperature or heat output of heating element 16 affects the heattransferred to cooking utensil 18 placed on heating element 16.

As will be discussed in greater detail below, the cooktop appliance 12includes a control system 50 (FIG. 3) for controlling one or more of theplurality of heating elements 16. Specifically, the control system 50may include a controller 52 (FIG. 3) operably connected to the controlpanel 22 and controls 24. The controller 52 may be operably connected toeach of the plurality of heating elements 16 for controlling a powerlever/heating temperature of each of the plurality of heating elements16 in response to one or more user inputs received through the controlpanel 22 and controls 24.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a top, schematic view of the cooktop appliance12 of FIG. 1, or more specifically of the cooking surface 14 of thecooktop appliance 12 of FIG. 1 is provided. As stated, the cookingsurface 14 of the cooktop appliance 12 for the embodiment depictedincludes five heating elements 16 spaced along the cooking surface 14. Acooking utensil 18, also depicted schematically, is positioned on afirst heating element 16 of the plurality of heating elements 16. Forthe embodiment depicted, a cookware temperature sensor 28 and a foodtemperature sensor 30 are also associated with the cooking utensil 18(depicted in phantom).

In at least certain exemplary embodiments, the cookware temperaturesensor 28 may be attached to or integrated into the cooking utensil 18and configured to sense a temperature of, e.g., a bottom surface of thecooking utensil 18 or bottom wall of the cooking utensil 18. Forexample, the cookware temperature sensor 28 may be embedded within thebottom wall of the cooking utensil 18. Alternatively, however, thecookware temperature sensor 28 may be attached to or integrated withinthe cooking surface 14 of the cooktop appliance 12. With such anexemplary embodiment, the cookware temperature sensor 28 may beconfigured to physically contact the bottom surface of bottom wall ofthe cooking utensil 18 when the cooking utensil 18 is placed on theheating element 16 of the cooking surface 14. Alternatively, cookwaretemperature sensor 28 may be positioned proximate to the bottom surfaceor bottom wall of the cooking utensil 18 when the cooking utensil 18 isplaced on the heating element 16 of the cooking surface 14.

Additionally, the food temperature sensor 30 may be positioned at anysuitable location to sense a temperature of one or more food items 32(see FIG. 3) positioned within the cooking utensil 18. For example, thefood temperature sensor 30 may be a probe type temperature sensorconfigured to be inserted into one or more food items 32. Alternatively,however, the food temperature sensor 30 may be configured to determine atemperature of one or more food items positioned within the cookingutensil 18 in any other suitable manner.

In certain exemplary embodiments, one or both of the cookwaretemperature sensor 28 or food temperature sensor 30 may utilize anysuitable technology for sensing/determining a temperature of the cookingutensil 18 or food 32 positioned in the cooking utensil 18,respectively. For example, one or both of the food temperature sensor 30or cookware temperature sensor 28 may utilize one or more thermocouples,thermistors, optical temperature sensors, infrared temperature sensors,etc.

Referring still to FIG. 2, the cooktop appliance 12 additionallyincludes a plurality of receivers 34, each receiver 34 associated withan individual heating element 16. Each receiver 34 is configured toreceive a signal from the food temperature sensor 30 indicative of atemperature of the one or more food items 32 positioned within thecooking utensil 18 and from the cookware temperature sensor 28indicative of a temperature of the cooking utensil 18 positioned on arespective heating element 16. In at least certain exemplaryembodiments, the cooking utensil 18 may have a wireless transmitteroperably connected to one or both for the cookware temperature sensor 28and food temperature sensor 30 to transmitting the signals to thereceiver 34. Alternatively, however, one or both of the cookwaretemperature sensor 28 and food temperature sensor 30 may includetransmitting capabilities, or alternatively may be hard-wired to thereceiver 34 through a wired communications bus.

Referring now also to FIG. 3, a schematic view of a system for operatinga cooktop appliance 12 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure is provided. Specifically, FIG. 3 provides aschematic view of a heating element 16 of the exemplary cooktopappliance 12 of FIGS. 1 and 2 and an exemplary control system 50.

As stated, the cooktop appliance 12 includes a receiver 34 associatedwith each heating element 16. For the embodiment depicted, each receiver34 is positioned directly below a center portion of a respective heatingelement 16. Moreover, for the embodiment depicted, each receiver 34 isconfigured as a wireless receiver 34 configured to receive one or morewireless signals. Specifically, for the exemplary control system 50depicted, each of the cookware temperature sensor 28 and the foodtemperature sensor 30 are configured as wireless sensors in wirelesscommunication with the wireless receiver 34 via a wirelesscommunications network 54. In certain exemplary embodiments, thewireless communications network 54 may be a wireless sensor network(such as a Bluetooth communication network), a wireless local areanetwork (WLAN), a point-to point communication networks (such as radiofrequency identification networks, near field communications networks,etc.), or a combination of two or more of the above communicationsnetworks.

Referring still to FIG. 3, each receiver 34 associated with a respectiveheating element 16 is operably connected to a controller 52 of thecontrol system 50. The receivers 34 may be operably connected via awired communication bus (as shown), or alternatively through a wirelesscommunication network similar to the exemplary wireless communicationnetwork 54 discussed above. The controller 52 may generally include acomputing device 56 having one or more processor(s) 58 and associatedmemory device(s) 60. The computing device 56 may be configured toperform a variety of computer-implemented functions to control theexemplary cooktop appliance 12. The computing device 56 can include ageneral purpose computer or a special purpose computer, or any othersuitable computing device. It should be appreciated, that as usedherein, the processor 58 may refer to a controller, a microcontroller, amicrocomputer, a programmable logic controller (PLC), an applicationspecific integrated circuit, and other programmable circuits.Additionally, the memory device(s) 60 may generally comprise memoryelement(s) including, but not limited to, computer readable medium(e.g., random access memory (RAM)), computer readable non-volatilemedium (e.g., a flash memory), a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM),a magneto-optical disk (MOD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), and/orother suitable memory elements. The memory 60 can store informationaccessible by processor(s) 58, including instructions that can beexecuted by processor(s) 58. For example, the instructions can besoftware or any set of instructions that when executed by theprocessor(s) 58, cause the processor(s) 58 to perform operations. Forthe embodiment depicted, the instructions may include a software packageconfigured to operate the system to, e.g., execute the exemplary methods(100), (200) described below with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.

Referring still to FIG. 3, the control system 50 additionally includes auser interface 62 operably connected to the controller 52. For theembodiment depicted, the user interface 62 is configured in wiredcommunication with the controller 52. However, in other exemplaryembodiments, the user interface 62 may additionally, or alternatively,be wirelessly connected to the controller 52 via one or more suitablewireless communication networks (such as the exemplary wirelesscommunication network 54 described above). In certain exemplaryembodiments, user interface 62 may be configured as the control panel 22and plurality of controls 24 on the cooktop appliance 12 (see FIG. 1).Additionally, or alternatively, the user interface 62 may be configuredas an external computing device, such as a smart phone, tablet, or otherdevice capable of connecting to the controller 52 of the exemplarycontrol system 50.

Further, the controller 52 is operably connected to each of theplurality of heating elements 16 for controlling a power lever/heatingtemperature of each of the plurality of heating elements 16 in responseto one or more user inputs through the user interface 62 (e.g., controlpanel 22 and controls 24). Specifically, for the embodiment depicted,the controller 52 is operably connected to a plurality of power levelcontrol devices 64, each power level control device 64 associated with arespective one of the heating elements 16. For example, wherein one ormore of the heating elements 16 are configured as electric resistanceheaters, the controller 52 may be operably connected to respectiverelays, triodes for alternating current, or other devices forcontrolling an amount of power to such electrical resistance heaters.Alternatively, wherein one or more of the heating elements 16 areconfigured as induction heating elements, the controller 52 may beoperably connected to respective current control devices. Alternativelystill, wherein one or more of the heating elements 16 are configured asgas burner heating elements, the controller 52 may be operably connectedto one or more respective electronic or electromechanical gas valves.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a method (100) for operating a cooktopappliance in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the presentdisclosure is provided. The exemplary method (100) may be utilized withthe exemplary cooktop appliance and control system described above withreference to FIGS. 1 through 3. Accordingly, the exemplary method (100)may be utilized with a cooktop appliance including a cooking surfacehaving a plurality of heating elements positioned thereon configured forheating/cooking one or more food items positioned in respective cookingutensils.

The exemplary method (100) generally includes at (102) determining atemperature of a cooking utensil positioned on a heating element of thecooktop appliance, and at (104) determining a temperature of a food inthe cooking utensil positioned on the heating element of the cooktopappliance. In certain exemplary aspects, determining at (102) thetemperature of the utensil may include determining a temperature of abottom surface of the cooking utensil, and/or may include sensing thetemperature of the cooking utensil using, e.g., a cookware temperaturesensor. Similarly, in certain exemplary aspects, determining at (104)the temperature of the food in the cooking utensil may includedetermining a temperature of a middle portion or top portion of suchfood, and/or may include sensing the temperature of the food in thecooking utensil using, e.g., a food temperature sensor.

Furthermore, in still other exemplary aspects, determining at (102) thetemperature of the cooking utensil positioned on the heating element mayinclude receiving with a wireless receiver a wireless signal from acookware temperature sensor. Similarly, in other exemplary aspects,determining at (104) the temperature of the food in the cooking utensilmay include receiving with a wireless receiver a wireless signal from afood temperature sensor.

Referring still to FIG. 4, the exemplary method (100) further includesat (106) calculating a temperature differential between the temperatureof the cooking utensil determined at (102) and the temperature of thefood in the cooking utensil determined at (104). Moreover, the exemplarymethod (100) includes at (108) controlling a heating temperature of theheating element to reduce the temperature differential calculated at(106) when the temperature differential calculated at (106) is greaterthan a predetermined threshold.

In at least certain exemplary aspects, controlling the heatingtemperature of the heating element at (108) may include reducing a powerlevel of the heating element, and more specifically, may includereducing a power level of the heating element in an amount determinedbased on a magnitude of the temperature differential calculated at(106). Additionally, or alternatively, however, controlling a heatingtemperature of the heating element to reduce the temperaturedifferential at (108) may include controlling a power level of theheating element using a proportional-integral-derivative control method.

The exemplary method (100) described herein may run automatically duringoperation of the cooktop appliance, or more specifically, of a heatingelement of the cooktop appliance. Additionally, or alternatively, theexemplary method (100) described herein may run automatically inresponse to receiving a temperature signal or signals from one or bothof a cookware temperature sensor and/or a food temperature sensor.Alternatively still, the exemplary method (100) described herein may runin response to a user input to a user interface device.

Accordingly, such an exemplary method has the technical advantage ofdetermining a temperature differential between a temperature of acooking utensil and a temperature of a food positioned in the cookingutensil to keep the food from burning during cooking operations.Specifically, when the temperature differential is greater than apredetermined threshold indicative, e.g., of food burning on a bottomside contacting a bottom wall of the cooking utensil, while slowlyheating in other areas, the method may control a power level/heatingtemperature of a respective heating element to minimize this effect.Therefore, a cooktop appliance operated according to the exemplarymethod of FIG. 4 may more gently heat/cook one or more food itemspositioned within a cooking utensil on a heating element of the cooktopappliance.

Notably, the predetermined threshold for when the food is burning on abottom side (contacting a bottom wall of the cooking utensil) whileslowly heating elsewhere may vary from food to food. Accordingly, in atleast certain exemplary aspects, the exemplary method (100) may furtherinclude at (110) setting the predetermined threshold for the temperaturedifferential based on the food in the cooking utensil. In certainexemplary aspects, setting the predetermined threshold for thetemperature differential at (110) may include inputting a user inputsetting through a user input device to the control system of the cooktopappliance. In certain exemplary aspects, the user input setting inputtedthrough the user input device may be, e.g., a food category or type offood positioned within the cooking utensil positioned on the heatingelement. Additionally, in certain exemplary aspects, the user inputdevice may be a control panel on the cooktop appliance (includingvarious controls), or alternatively, may be an external computingdevice, such as a handheld computing device, such as a smart phone ortablet, or any other suitable computing device capable of communicatingwith a controller of the control system.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an exemplary method (200) is provided forassociating a wireless sensor to a heating element of a cooktopappliance. The exemplary method (200) of FIG. 5 may also be utilizedwith the exemplary cooktop appliance and control system described abovewith reference to FIGS. 1 through 3.

In certain exemplary aspects, the exemplary method (200) of FIG. 5 mayallow for a user to place a cooking utensil having one or more wirelesstemperature sensors positioned therein or associated therewith on asingle heating element of a plurality of heating elements of the cooktopappliance and have a control system of the cooktop applianceautomatically determine a location of such cooking utensil.

For example, after the cooking utensil is placed on the heating element,the exemplary method (200) includes at (202) receiving with a firstwireless receiver a wireless signal from a wireless sensor configuredwith the cooking utensil. The first wireless receiver may be associatedwith a first heating element of a plurality of heating elements of thecooktop appliance. Moreover, the exemplary method (200) additionallyincludes at (204) receiving with a second wireless receiver a wirelesssignal from the wireless sensor configured with the cooking utensil. Thesecond wireless receiver may be associated with a second heating elementof the plurality of heating elements of the cooktop appliance. Notably,in certain exemplary aspects, the wireless sensor configured with thecooking utensil may be a wireless food temperature sensor, a wirelesscookware temperature sensor, or both.

Referring still to FIG. 5, the exemplary method (200) additionallyincludes at (206) comparing a strength of the wireless signal receivedwith the first wireless receiver at (202) to a strength of the wirelesssignal received with the second wireless receiver at (204). For example,comparing at (206) the strength of the wireless signal received with thefirst wireless receiver at (202) to a strength of the wireless signalreceived with the second wireless receiver at (204) may includedetermining which of the two wireless signals is the strongest.

Additionally, the exemplary method (200) includes at (208) determining aposition of the cooking utensil on one of the first heating element orthe second heating element based on the strengths of the wirelesssignals received with the first and second wireless receivers andcompared at (206). For example, determining at (208) a position of thecooking utensil on one of the first heating element or the secondheating element based on the strengths of the wireless signals receivedwith the first and second wireless receivers and compared at (206) mayinclude determining the cooking utensil is positioned on the heatingelement associated with the wireless receiver receiving the strongestsignal from the wireless temperature sensor.

Accordingly, a cooktop appliance including a control systemincorporating the exemplary method (200) described above with respect toFIG. 5 includes the technical effect of allowing for a user to place acooking utensil on a single heating element of a plurality of heatingelements and automatically determining the relative position of thecooking utensil.

It should be appreciated, however, that the exemplary method (200) isprovided by way of example only, and that in other exemplaryembodiments, the method (200) may determine the relative position of thecooking utensil on the cooktop appliance in any other suitable manner.For example, in other exemplary aspects, the cooktop appliance mayinclude at least three wireless receivers positioned at any suitablelocation within, e.g., the cooktop, a control panel of the cooktop, orat any suitable location. With such an exemplary aspect, the method(200) may include receiving a wireless signal from the wireless sensorconfigured with the cooking utensil with each of the three wirelessreceivers. The method (200) may determine a strength of the wirelesssignal received with each of the three wireless receivers. The method(200) may then determine the position of the cooking utensil bytriangulating the wireless signals received by each of the threewireless sensors.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intendedto be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elementsthat do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if theyinclude equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differencesfrom the literal languages of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for operating a cooktop appliance,comprising: determining a temperature of a cooking utensil positioned ona heating element of the cooktop appliance; determining a temperature ofa food in the cooking utensil positioned on the heating element of thecooktop appliance; calculating a temperature differential between thetemperature of the cooking utensil and the temperature of the food inthe cooking utensil; and controlling a heating temperature of theheating element when the temperature differential is greater than apredetermined threshold.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprisingsetting the predetermined threshold for the temperature differentialbased on the food in the cooking utensil.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein determining the temperature of the cooking utensil includesdetermining a temperature of a bottom surface of the cooking utensil. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein determining the temperature of thecooking utensil includes sensing the temperature of the cooking utensil.5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the temperature of thefood in the cooking utensil includes sensing the temperature of the foodin the cooking utensil or receiving with a wireless receiver a wirelesssignal from a food temperature sensor.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereindetermining the temperature of the cooking utensil positioned on theheating element includes receiving with a wireless receiver a wirelesssignal from a cookware temperature sensor.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein controlling the heating temperature of the heating element whenthe temperature differential is greater than the predetermined thresholdincludes controlling the heating temperature of the heating element toreduce the temperature differential when the temperature differential isgreater than the predetermined threshold.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein controlling the heating temperature of the heating elementincludes reducing a power level of the heating element.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein controlling the heating temperature of the heatingelement includes reducing a power level of the heating element in anamount determined based on a magnitude of the temperature differential.10. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling a heating temperature ofthe heating element to reduce the temperature differential when thetemperature differential is greater than a predetermined thresholdincludes controlling a power level of the heating element using aproportional-integral-derivative control method.
 11. A cooktop appliancecomprising: a heating element positioned on a cooktop surface of thecooktop appliance; and a controller operably connected to the heatingelement, the controller configured to receive a signal from a cookwaretemperature sensor indicative of a temperature of a cooking utensilpositioned on the heating element; receive a signal from a foodtemperature sensor indicative of a temperature of a food positioned inthe cooking utensil positioned on the heating element; calculate atemperature differential between the temperature of the cooking utensiland the temperature of the food in the cooking utensil; and control aheating temperature of the heating element when the calculatedtemperature differential is greater than a predetermined threshold. 12.The cooktop appliance of claim 11, further comprising a wirelessreceiver operably connected to the controller, wherein the controller isconfigured to receive the signal from the cookware temperature sensorusing the wireless receiver, and wherein the controller is configured toreceive the signal from the food temperature sensor using the wirelessreceiver.
 13. The cooktop appliance of claim 11, further comprising auser interface, wherein the controller is further configured to receivethrough the user interface a user input setting corresponding to adesired predetermined threshold for the temperature differential, andwherein the controller is further configured to set the predeterminedthreshold for the temperature differential based on the user inputsetting.
 14. The cooktop appliance of claim 11, wherein in controllingthe heating temperature of the heating element the controller isconfigured to reduce a power level of the heating element.
 15. Thecooktop appliance of claim 11, wherein in controlling the heatingtemperature of the heating element the controller is configured toreduce a power level of the heating element in an amount determinedbased on a magnitude of the temperature differential calculated.
 16. Thecooktop appliance of claim 11, wherein in controlling the heatingtemperature of the heating element the controller is configured tocontrol a power level of the heating element using aproportional-integral-derivative control method.
 17. A method forassociating a wireless sensor to a heating element of a cooktopappliance comprising: receiving a wireless signal from a wireless sensorconfigured with a cooking utensil with a first wireless receiver;receiving a wireless signal from the wireless sensor configured with thecooking utensil with a second wireless receiver; comparing a strength ofthe wireless signal received with the first wireless receiver to astrength of the wireless signal received with the second wirelessreceiver; and determining a position of the cooking utensil on one ofthe first heating element or the second heating element based on thecompared strengths of the wireless signals received with the first andsecond wireless receivers.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the firstwireless receiver is associated with a first heating element in aplurality of heating elements of the cooktop appliance, and wherein thesecond wireless receiver is associated with a second heating element inthe plurality of heating elements of the cooktop appliance.
 19. Themethod of claim 17, wherein determining a position of the cookingutensil on one of the first heating element or the second heatingelement based on the compared strengths of the wireless signals receivedwith the first and second wireless receivers includes determining whichof the wireless signal received with the first wireless receiver or thewireless signal received with the second wireless receiver is thestrongest.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the wireless sensorconfigured with the cooking utensil is at least one of a foodtemperature sensor or a cookware temperature sensor.